Foreign
THE verdict in former French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s appeal against a conviction for corruption and influence peddling is to be announced in Paris on Wednesday.
In March 2021, Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012, was handed a three-year prison sentence, with two years suspended.
In the appeal, prosecutors have asked for the full three-year term to be suspended.
Even though the court in the initial trial ruled that Sarkozy could serve the time under house arrest with electronic tagging, the sentence was unique in France.
His lawyer, however, termed it “extremely harsh’’ and “unjustified’’.
The conservative former president was found guilty of securing confidential information from prosecutor Gilbert Azibert in 2014 regarding a different case via his lawyer, Thierry Herzog.
Azibert would in return receive presidential support in applying for a post in Monaco.
Prosecutors argued that this conduct had jeopardised judicial independence.
Herzog and Azibert were also convicted and are also awaiting the outcome of the appeal.(dpa/NAN)
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Tags: Gilbert Azibert Nicolas Sarkozy Paris
